To easily load/unload a process cartridge in/from an image forming apparatus body.
When attachable/detachable process cartridges Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd are loaded in the image forming apparatus body 1, respective photoreceptor drums 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d are coupled with a stepping motor on the body 1 side through a coupling. The process cartridges are exchanged when the photoreceptor drum reaches its end of life. When the rotation of the photoreceptor drum in an ordinary rotating direction by the normal rotation of the stepping motor is stopped, the coupling state of the coupling is released after the coupling maintains lock for a specified time after the rotation is stopped. Therefore, the process cartridge is easily exchanged without damaging an intermediate transfer belt or the like.
FUJIMORI TAKASHI
YAMAMOTO SATORU
MOTOYAMA EIICHI
Shinji Aida
Takaharu Takita